Opinion / Columnist
Jonathan Moyo and Dr Grace Mugabe are a refreshingly new kind of representative for the people
17 Jun 2015 at 17:41hrs | Views
Nomazulu, our vision is to see significant progress on achieving outcomes which we believes will have the biggest impact for residents in any constituency regardless of political representation in areas such as income levels, health and jobs, alongside a quality infrastructure. Zimbabwe Unemployed People's Association is enthusiastically looking forward to supporting the Tsholotsho North leader in a new relationship with residents embedding the ‘working with them' ethos through his innovative programmes. Together with our partner organizations such as ZISO, local MPs, we believe this relationship provides an excellent forum for joined up community initiatives in particular small scale projects.
But Nomazulu is also right when she says ZUPA authored a number of positive articles regarding the first lady Dr Grace Mugabe. She is also quite right that a few weeks ago Zimbabwe Unemployed People's Association which represents the interests of millions of economically disadvantaged people congratulated Prof. Jonathan Moyo for his emphatic win in Tsholotsho North. But why not highlight our assertive policy positions on key issues such as unemployment, indigenisation and empowerment, infrastructure development, child protection, management of resources, devolution, collapse of the industry in Bulawayo, recognition of Adam Ndlovu, representation of women in decision making, support for ZAPU in Bulawayo, State of hospitals, the care of the elderly etc. Our members have told us they "need to be convinced that their next political leadership will be not only one they can trust or see, but one who will always put them first". I believe this comment
needs qualifying somewhat.
Since independence, people's representatives in parliament, political parties, public institutions such as ZBC, Anti-corruption Commission have been of the usual kind, living elsewhere, cuckoo land thus devoting the absolute minimum of time visiting the constituency to hold "clinics" at the local party office, where it is hoped a very few – or preferably none – of the voters would have the temerity to face the exalted Member with questions as to why the Government or such organization can't do this thing or that. Otherwise, when not in Harare up market hotels, they would be elsewhere attending to their business interests or surveying their acres of farmland, etc.
The exception to this kind of leadership is ZANU politician Prof. Jonathan Moyo and Dr Grace Mugabe, but unfortunately for the opposition leadership most of their time organising a split and the formation of a new parties under own leadership. I submit that Prof. Jonathan Moyo and Dr Grace Mugabe are a refreshingly new kind of representative for the people, as their record clearly shows. Moyo has a permanent home Tsholotsho North and since first being elected has made it his business to know as many citizens as possible from the richest to the poorest, and from the most talented to the average. Successive ministers have failed women, children and that time have come for real change that can positively transform the lives of the people.Such leaders provide the connection between politics and society. In this sense Moya and Dr Mugabe fulfil four crucial functions.
He makes visits to schools, community projects for the unemployed, hospitals and clinics in their truest sense. He attends meetings in his constituency. He even plays the guitar and sings for his daughter, Dr G Mugabe visits people in their homes thus giving enormous support to the elderly, orphaned kids, her idea of relaxation includes helping the seriously under-privileged children in her orphanage. I'm sure both indulge in many more activities of which I and you Nomazulu know nothing. And all of this at the same time as making her way up the political ladder to her present position as a women league leader. Regarding Moyo, Zimbabwe has never had such a vibrant, fearless, intelligent and hard-working MP in my memory.
There can be little doubt the Tsholotsho, women and Zimbabwe is unlikely in the near future to have another representatives of equal commitment and talent, let alone one to exceed Prof Moyo and Dr Mugabe. Regardless of which party takes office in 2018 (or parties plural if we end up with a hung parliament), Tsholotsho North would be foolish not re-elect Prof Moyo
But Nomazulu is also right when she says ZUPA authored a number of positive articles regarding the first lady Dr Grace Mugabe. She is also quite right that a few weeks ago Zimbabwe Unemployed People's Association which represents the interests of millions of economically disadvantaged people congratulated Prof. Jonathan Moyo for his emphatic win in Tsholotsho North. But why not highlight our assertive policy positions on key issues such as unemployment, indigenisation and empowerment, infrastructure development, child protection, management of resources, devolution, collapse of the industry in Bulawayo, recognition of Adam Ndlovu, representation of women in decision making, support for ZAPU in Bulawayo, State of hospitals, the care of the elderly etc. Our members have told us they "need to be convinced that their next political leadership will be not only one they can trust or see, but one who will always put them first". I believe this comment
needs qualifying somewhat.
Since independence, people's representatives in parliament, political parties, public institutions such as ZBC, Anti-corruption Commission have been of the usual kind, living elsewhere, cuckoo land thus devoting the absolute minimum of time visiting the constituency to hold "clinics" at the local party office, where it is hoped a very few – or preferably none – of the voters would have the temerity to face the exalted Member with questions as to why the Government or such organization can't do this thing or that. Otherwise, when not in Harare up market hotels, they would be elsewhere attending to their business interests or surveying their acres of farmland, etc.
The exception to this kind of leadership is ZANU politician Prof. Jonathan Moyo and Dr Grace Mugabe, but unfortunately for the opposition leadership most of their time organising a split and the formation of a new parties under own leadership. I submit that Prof. Jonathan Moyo and Dr Grace Mugabe are a refreshingly new kind of representative for the people, as their record clearly shows. Moyo has a permanent home Tsholotsho North and since first being elected has made it his business to know as many citizens as possible from the richest to the poorest, and from the most talented to the average. Successive ministers have failed women, children and that time have come for real change that can positively transform the lives of the people.Such leaders provide the connection between politics and society. In this sense Moya and Dr Mugabe fulfil four crucial functions.
He makes visits to schools, community projects for the unemployed, hospitals and clinics in their truest sense. He attends meetings in his constituency. He even plays the guitar and sings for his daughter, Dr G Mugabe visits people in their homes thus giving enormous support to the elderly, orphaned kids, her idea of relaxation includes helping the seriously under-privileged children in her orphanage. I'm sure both indulge in many more activities of which I and you Nomazulu know nothing. And all of this at the same time as making her way up the political ladder to her present position as a women league leader. Regarding Moyo, Zimbabwe has never had such a vibrant, fearless, intelligent and hard-working MP in my memory.
There can be little doubt the Tsholotsho, women and Zimbabwe is unlikely in the near future to have another representatives of equal commitment and talent, let alone one to exceed Prof Moyo and Dr Mugabe. Regardless of which party takes office in 2018 (or parties plural if we end up with a hung parliament), Tsholotsho North would be foolish not re-elect Prof Moyo
Source - ZUPA The Presidium thepresidiumzupa@yahoo.co.uk
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